Automatic train-pipe coupling.



.W. I. BROWNE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

- APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1915.

1,209,547. v Patented Dec. 19,1916."

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T FFIQE.

WALTER I. 'BROWNE, 0F BRISTOL, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK J'.

BRADY, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed December 16, 1915. Serial No. 67,260.

new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and such as exact description of the invention, will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to train pipe cou plings.

The object of my invention is to provide a coupling device which will automatically become connected by the act of bringing the ends of two cars together.

A further specific object is to provide aconstruction which will adapt itself to the movement of the train to which it is attached and which will remain locked in operative position, at the same time permitting vertical and horizontal movement of the adjacent ends of the cars to which it is attached, at the same time means being provided to limit this movement.

A further specific object is to provide means for guiding the parts into locked position as they come together and to provide an unlocking means which will work automaticiently separated.

My invention consistsof the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, I have illustrated a form of embodiment of my invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a car having the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a broken detail end elevation of the car showing the invention in elevation; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the connecting pipes; Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal provided with the usual valve 3. An elbow 4 is secured to the train pipe 2 and supports play following the cally when the ends of the'cars are sufi- "car to guide the heads a horizontal length of pipe 5, which extends laterally approximately to the center of the car. This pipe 5 is mounted within bearings supported from the car frame by means of the brackets 5. An elbow 6 is secured to the end of the pipe 5 to receive a vertical casing 7 (see Fig. 8). Slidably disposed in the casing 7 is a pipe 8 provided with flanges 9 at its upper end to receive packing 10. This construction permits a vertical move ment equal to the distance between the lower flange 9 and the flange 7 of the casing, and also permits a swinging horizontal movement within certain limits, hereinafter described. An elbow 11 is secured to the lower end of the pipe 8 and has firmly attached to its forward end the horizontally disposed casing 12, which is provided with a longitudinal interior groove or way 13, to receive a spline 14 formed on the outside of a horizontally disposed pipe 15, which is disposed to slide within the casing 12. This construction permits a horizontal play, longitudinally of the car 1, and the spline and groove construction prevents axial movement of the coupling proper with respect to the pipe 8. Carried by the pipe 15 is a flared shell or head 16. The free end of the head is provided with an inclined surface or face 17, which is arranged to ride upon a similar face on thecorresponding coupling on another parts into locking position, which corresponding coupling on the other car must be arranged in an inverted position with respect to the coupling as shown in the drawings so that the two corresponding couplings when coming together will be readily coupled. Whereas in the drawings I have shown the coupling head arranged at one end of the car having its open face upward it is, of course, to be understood that the coupling arranged at the opposite end of the car must be in a position so that its open face will extend downward so that when the two opposing coupling heads contact each other they will be automatically and properly coupled. The head 16 is provided with a passage 18 leading from the pipe 15 and terminating in a packing seat 19, so that a fluid tight joint is formed when two coupling are brought into locked position. On one side of the head 16 there is formed a rounded wall 20, and on the opposite side is formed a boss 21, conforming in contour to the wall 20, so that when two similar coupling heads are brought together "the'bo'sses 21 fit into the rounded walls 20 and th'e'p'as- "sages 18' register.

The boss 21 is arranged to cooperate with the pointed end of a plunger 23, when two coupling heads are brought together as described, The plunger'23 is arranged to pass throiigh a bore 24- having an inclined wall Zet' and formed through one sideof the shell or head 16 The plunger 23 is provided with abore 25, to receive a guide rodj26, whichis disposed in a casing 27 secured on one side of the head 16. A spring 28 maintain s thei plunger 23 in its position projecting through the bore 24. In case the connection is to be broken by the separationof adjacent cars, the force is sufiicient for the shouldeli 22 to bear upon the pointed end of the plunger 23 and force its inclined face 23? against the a,

inclined face 24 of the bore 24 and to force the plunger "downwardand in'to thel casing 27 to unloclrthe head. The spring 26 on the rod .26 returns the plunger 23 to its normal position, assisted by the tension of the spring 28.

To facilitate the interlockihg of two coupler heads constructed as described, the'lboss 21 is provided with 'an under cut beveled surface 29. forming an interlocking element for the head 16. Horizontal movement of the casing 112 is limited by means of a" brace 30 secured on the bearing supported by the bracket 5 or adjacent part of the car 1', and a loop 31 carried on the lower endof the brace, extending around the'casing {12 and connected thereto by coiledfsprings 32 or similar resilient members thereby permitting a slight longitudinal movement with respect tothe ear but the coiled-springs provide means for returning the sameto its normal position and also prevent any axial movement of the coupler.

formed with a Shaada 22 Atacama of the-tare 'tobe equipped with coupler head of the construction described I' have d'esciibed dfily O 'nfi'mipler "head, itbeingnnderstood that the construction atbotli ends of the car is identical. Havingtli'us fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by "lje'tters Patent is:

1. Atrain pipe coup-ling comprising an iiiterlockable headhaving a boss formed with a shoulder, a casing disposed on" the head,

plunger having pointed endprojefcting through an-opening provided in ithe head and having an inclined wall, a spring under the plungena rod disposed transversely through the plunger spring on the rod.

' 2. A train'jpipe coupling 'comprising'an ,interlockable head, a longitudinally adjustablepipe connectedftoone endjof said head, a "vertically jadjustable pipe' connected to the opposite endjof said longitudinally arranged pipe, a support, and coil springs connecting said longitudinally adjustable pipe to said support substantially as and for 3. ,tI'ttlIL p pe coupl ng compr1s1ng a coupling head, sa d coupl ng head comprising a flaredisem'icircular port on, a boss formed with said head and provided with a shoulder; a casing secured to said flared semic rcular portion, a spr ng actuated plungerarranged within said casing; and adapted H "WALTER I. BROWNE. ne es:

, CHA LEsHARkIN,

A. ZASTIEN.

owe-or this pe tentxn a y be obtahied ioi flvelcents eacii,iby iidilrasing the oiiiniiaiiidier fatents,

Waahington, D. 0. 

